FREEPORT — Gray-New Gloucester’s Tyler St. Pierre made run after run as his teammates tried to send the speedy forward on a breakaway behind the Freeport defense.

Three times, the plan — both in timing and execution — worked perfectly as St. Pierre’s hat trick lifted the Patriots to their first win, a 3-2 Western Maine Conference decision over the host Falcons in a back-and-forth high school boys’ soccer contest on Wednesday.

Gray-New Gloucester improved to 1-3 and hosts Waynflete on Friday, while Freeport left its pitch with the same 1-3 mark and visits Fryeburg Academy on Friday.

Patriots’ standout defenseman Noah Lobozzo sent St. Pierre on his way twice, while the game-winning tally was made possible by midfielder Bryce Hayman.

None of the goals were easy, as St. Pierre had to either touch the ball past hard-charging Freeport goaltender Brendan Qualls (five saves), or use his solid scoring touch to ring the ball off the post and into the twine.

“We finally played more offensively, and we happened to be on the right side of things today,” said St. Pierre. “We were trying to get Freeport more compact and slot it through, and today we were able to do that. This is a big win for us and hopefully gets us pointed in the right direction.”

For Freeport, this loss hurt.

“You look at the schedule and expect to win this game, and right now we are frustrated, but this one is on me,” said Freeport coach Joe Heathco. “So far this season, we have focused on our offensive shape, with our defense experienced. But, today we got caught high three times. We went to a little different shape at the end and left the backs exposed, and we got caught.”

Prior to the game, the field was re-lined due to poor conditions caused by recent heavy rain. The width of the field was reduced from 75 to 70 feet.

The smaller field didn’t seem to bother St. Pierre, who opened the scoring with 11:29 remaining until halftime. Lobozzo sent a long pass that St. Pierre ran onto behind the Falcons defense. He managed to tip the ball past Qualls near the top of the penalty area and into the exposed net.

The lead might have been more, with the Patriots missing two solid opportunities as the time ticked away. Qualls stopped Hayman in front of his cage, and watched a try by Eric Wilcox roll just inches wide of his goal.

“The first half we weathered the storm the first five, and then we tried to slow things down and get behind their defenders,” said Gray-New Gloucester coach Andy Higgins. “We had our chances to be up two goals at the half. But, we were happy to have the lead.”

Higgins’ joy didn’t last long, as Freeport tied the game 11:29 into the second half on a Nick Wilson goal. Wilson’s shot from 20-yards out curled past the dive of Patriots netminder Brendan McNally, off the post and into the cage to produce a 1-1 deadlock.

“We didn’t change much in the second half. We just talked about energy and thought, and tried to take away their transition,” said Heathco.

“Joe is a heck of a coach, made adjustments at half and had us back on our heels in the second half,” said Higgins, whose Patriots were outshot 6-3 in the second frame after holding an 11-7 edge at the intermission.

Gray-New Gloucester answered seven minutes later as St. Pierre and Lobozzo hooked up for a second time, but Freeport kept coming. The Falcons tied the game for a second time when Ethan Roney finished off a pass from Jack Davenport with 6:36 remaining.

But, St. Pierre wasn’t to be denied, scoring just 2:17 later, with his shot glancing off the left post and in for a 3-2 advantage.

“Our team doesn’t have those star players, but we are working well together,” said Lobozzo, who praised St. Pierre.. “Tyler has an extreme nose for the goal, muscles through and just loves to score. He is just clutch. He is a kid that just finishes.”

“We tried to keep our heads high, and just knew that we could score more goals,” said St. Pierre.

Freeport had one last chance to tie the game again, but Davenport’s shot from long distance was gobbled up by McNally, who had nine saves.

“This win falls on Noah Lobozzo, who just wasn’t going to let us lose,” said Higgins of his senior captain. “We had two letdowns, and he picked the kids back up. That is what you want out of a leader. This win, I credit to him.”

Gray-New Gloucester held a 14-13 shots advantage and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

For Freeport, midfielders Callum Gould, Shawn Anthony, Roney and Davenport stood out, while Falcon forwards Wilson, Nick Nelsonwood and Ryder Bennell created several scoring chances.

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